Event Description
The backyard ultra format has gained a reputation for its grueling and unpredictable nature, as well as the camaraderie among participants. Runners must endure sleep deprivation, exhaustion, and varying weather conditions, making it a true test of endurance and mental fortitude. Backyard ultras are the invention of Gary "Lazarus Lake" Cantrell, who is also one of the founders and race directors of the Barkley Marathons. The original backyard ultra is Big's Backyard Ultra, which is held on Cantrell's property in Bell Buckle, Tennessee and is named after his dog. Today, Big's is an invitational race where the top competitors participate based on wins in a bracket of the various American and international backyard ultras
The backyard ultra or last one standing is a form of ultramarathon race where competitors must consecutively run the distance of 6.706 kilometres (4.167 mi) in less than one hour, which is a pace of 100 miles per 24 hours. The race is over when only one runner remains to complete a lap. This runner is marked as the winner and only finisher, with all other runners receiving a "DNF" (Did Not Finish). The runner who completes the second-most laps in a race is often referred to as the "assist", in the sense that their effort is ultimately what determines how long the race is allowed to continue--there is no predefined end length or time in a backyard ultra, as long as multiple runners can complete each loop within an hour.
Event Details
What: The Last Outlaw - Last Man Standing
When: Friday November 15th
Time: High Noon
Where: Beechwood Farms
Address: 204 Bates Bridge Rd, Marietta, SC 29661
Qualification Standard: Must have finished a 100 Mile race prior to registration. All registered runners will be verified
Participant Experience: Each registered runner will receive an allotted space for personal gear/setup inside the U-Pick Stand. This will serve as our start finish line, our aid station, packet pickup, and a break from the elements in the event of inclement weather. This U-Pick stand has power, water, and indoor plumbing. Participant vehicles will be parked in the field lot adjacent to the course but access is not permitted once the event has started or until the runner has dropped from the event. Runners may arrive on site no earlier than 9am prior to the event. No course previews but if you have run the Country Mile event you will be familiar with the terrain. The course will consist of a 4.167 mile long course with 75 feet of elevation gain per loop. The race will start at high noon on Friday and will continue with the looped format of 1 hour until all but one runner is left. At that point The Last Outlaw MUST finish one more loop in one hour. Failure to do so eliminates all outlaws without a winner.
Event Specific Rules
- Each lap can be a round course, or an out-and-back course on the same path.
- In order to remain in the competition, the runners must be in the starting box when the hourly bell sounds. The starting box must be large enough to fit all the runners of the first lap; its size will not be changed during the competition.
- There will be a warning sound 3, 2 and 1 minutes before the bell.
- Except for relieving themselves, the runners are not allowed to leave the course. Personal assistance is forbidden on the course, but allowed between the laps. Aids like trekking poles are forbidden. Non-competitors may not be on the course, except to help escort an eliminated runner to safety. There may be aid stations on the lap if they support all competitors.
Records
- The longest distance recorded by a competitor in a backyard ultra event is 108 laps (450 miles (720 km)) achieved by American runner Harvey Lewis during the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra in Bell Buckle, Tennessee, USA.
- The second longest distance recorded is 107 laps, achieved by Ukrainian-Canadian runner Ihor Verys, also in the 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra. The third place holder in the same event, Polish runner Bartosz Fudali, achieved 103 laps.
- The world record prior to the October 2023 Big's Backyard Ultra in Tennessee was 102 laps (425 miles (684 km)) by Australian runner Phil Gore during the 2023 Australian Backyard Masters held at Dead Cow Gully in QLD Australia.
- The Female World Record for a backyard ultra performance is 74 laps (308.3 miles (496.2 km)) set by Jennifer Russo at the 2023 Capital Backyard Ultra in Lorton, VA. Prior to Russo’s record setting performance, the longest distance recorded by a female competitor in a backyard ultra event was 68 laps set by Courtney Dauwalter at Big's Backyard Ultra in October 2020. In May 2019, Katie Wright became the first woman to win a backyard ultra event running 201 kilometres (125 mi) in 30 hours during an event in New Zealand. She beat 5 other women and 40 men to emerge victoriously. Later that year in October 2019, Maggie Guterl would win Big's Backyard Ultra covering more than 402 km in 60 loops.
